NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

January 14, 1999

New Sheep Production Techniques to Be Highlighted at Hettinger Sheep Day Feb. 10

New sheep production techniques will be highlighted at the North Dakota State University Hettinger Research Extension Center's annual Sheep Day on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

The day begins at 9 a.m. with an open house at the research center's barns to tour projects and view rams on the ram test. The Hettinger Armory opens at 9:30 for coffee and registration for an early bird drawing for a Columbia ewe lamb to be given away before the program begins at 10:15 a.m.

The morning program at the armory features current research updates. NDSU researcher Paul Berg will discuss progress on the regional lean lamb project that is developing selection techniques to help producers maximize the production of lean meat. Berg coordinates the multistate research effort. Research on the use of field peas as a feedstuff for sheep will be outlined by Marc Bauer, NDSU livestock nutrition researcher.

Dan Nudell, research economist at the Hettinger Research Extension center, will discuss shared ownership of sheep. Sheep on shares allows producers to capitalize on individual management strengths and farm resources while sharing labor. Jeff Held, South Dakota State University Extension sheep specialist, will discuss results of the 1998 ram test that is conducted cooperatively in the Dakotas.

A production system for sheep focusing on reducing inputs of labor and capital may be as profitable as traditional systems that focus on maximum production, says Tim Faller, director of the Hettinger Research Extension Center. Faller will present results of his "Easy Sheep" research.

An American lamb dinner will be served at the armory at noon, followed by comments from Peter Orwick, executive director of the American Sheep Industry Association.

A program for spouses begins at 1:15 p.m. Local computer expert Jeff Rottering will discuss how to decide if you need a home computer. Sylvia Weishaar of Lemmon, S.D., will talk about home redecorating on a limited budget. Also, Adams County Extension Agent Colleen Svingen will discuss options for using of lamb and wool.

Afternoon research sessions open at 1:10 with a presentation on research to determine the nutritive value of cool-season grasses. The research gives producers guidance on how well pastures may be meeting the needs of their sheep or cattle and what supplements and other management techniques may be needed to make the most of the feed value available in those grasses.

Larry Praeger, manager of the Center of the Nation Wool Warehouse in Belle Fourche, S.D., will explain new criteria for wool packaging and how it might be implemented for both range and farm-flock producers.

NDSU Extension Veterinarian Charles Stoltenow will outline disease impacts on the commercial sheep operator. His comments will focus on new scrapie rules and abortion protection with reduced pharmaceuticals.

The program will close at 3 p.m. after comments from James Marshall Jr., president of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers Association.

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Source: Tim Faller (701) 567-4324

Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629